From Tatiana:

With tears in my eyes and joy in my heart I am delighted to announce that we have not only met our $1.5 Million goal for the down payment on the ideal property in Deerfield Beach, we have exceeded it!
 
Thanks to the very generous matching funds benefactor and all the donations received in the final 7 days before the deadline, we raised over $230K+$230K=$460K+! We did it! Praise God! 
 
We exceeded our goal of 1.5 Million dollars and closed on the property on Bright Monday, May 6.
 
Thank you for all your tireless efforts, your prayers, and support. The Orthodox community in FL and in the entire US and Canada came together and got us to the finish line. This is a true testament of our faith and the generosity of our extended community.
 
It's certainly not finished, in fact, this is just the beginning, but for now, I'm saying a prayer of thanks and enjoying the moment. This was a Pascha to remember!
 
Stay tuned for updates and Phase 1 renovation and constructions plans.

Blessings,
Tatiana

Less than a year ago I asked you to imagine with me a Cathedral to call home in South Florida, where the rich traditions of Russian Orthodoxy blend seamlessly with the diverse community that surrounds it. A place where bilingual services in Slavonic and English create an inclusive environment for worship and fellowship.

You may not have been able to see it yet, but I could see it in my mind’s eye, and it was magnificent. 

I am excited to announce that we have found a property! We are under contract and scheduled to close on Bright Monday, May 6, but we need your help. Would you consider making a gift today?

Shortly after Metropolitan Nicholas was enthroned as First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, he stated that his vision was that we would soon see the building of the next great Russian Orthodox Cathedral and that he would like to see this happen in Florida.

Florida has the second-largest Russian community in the United States. Approximately 300,000 Russians who are fluent in Russian live in the Sunshine State. Many more Orthodox believers reside in the state part-time or vacation here frequently, and they too require spiritual nourishment.

We began actively assessing properties in Florida for the location of a new Cathedral to be named Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral and alongside that Cathedral, a new and vibrant Orthodox Cultural Center. We believed that we would likely begin with the purchasing of an existing church and then proceed with modifications, and focused on properties that would ensure that we have the space necessary to support the development of our vision of a robust cultural and spiritual center in Florida.

We have found the ideal property to build The Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral in South Florida. Here are some of the bullet points:

Location: 1416 SE 2nd Ter, Deerfield Beach, FL
9,000 sq. ft. under roof vs. our present 5,000 sq. ft.
1.32 acres of prime land
Existing Anglican church with ample room for modification and expansion
Parish Hall for 250 with a stage for performances and concerts
Several offices/classrooms with plenty of storage
Commercial-quality kitchen installation planned
Beautiful surroundings
Adjacent homes for potential future expansion
Ample parking around the Church and Hall
Highly convenient location near 10th Street and Federal (Hwy 1) and just minutes from 95 and A1A
This is a prime middle-class neighborhood with stability and growth. There is a community playground across the street and the site is conveniently located near US 1, I-95, and the beach, and is just south of Boca Raton.

The series of events that have brought us to this moment are simply miraculous.

Months ago, we scheduled Metropolitan Nicholas’ visit with the Miraculous Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God—the crown jewel of the Church Abroad that for centuries has led the faithful through hardships, healed the sick, and brought both unbelievers and the faithful closer to God. 

At the time, we were still seeking a property for our future Cathedral but had not yet found a match. Then, in a dramatic turn, we located the ideal property in Deerfield Beach just weeks before the long-planned visit of Metropolitan Nicholas and the Wonderworking Kursk Root icon. We saw the property and entered a bidding war with 2 other churches and a developer 14 days before the planned visit. We then entered into a signed contract 10 days before the visit. We announced this joyous news to our parish at the Annual Parish Council Meeting presided over by the Metropolitan, our rector. The timing could not have been more providential and affirmed the divine hand that had clearly guided our journey.

During the visit of His Eminence and the Kursk Root icon, parishioners as well as visitors from neighboring parishes were blessed to accompany the Metropolitan to the new property. There, he prayed and blessed the property with the Miraculous Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, marking the site as sacred for our long-awaited Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral. The day was filled with such immense joy—the feeling was that of Pascha, the glorious and joyful Resurrection of Our Lord. There was an overwhelming sense of God’s divine blessing and guidance upon this endeavor. Through the Kursk Root Icon, we are under the Omophorion of the Theotokos Herself! Truly, this confluence of events could only have come about through heavenly providence.

This is a significant moment in our journey, and we invite you to join us in making this dream a reality.

We stand at a pivotal moment in our journey towards Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral in Deerfield Beach. Inspections have revealed no significant issues. We have completed the due diligence phase and have increased our deposit from $10,000-$100,000. If we are unable to close this money is not refundable.

Now must have a minimum of $1.5 million in the bank by MAY 3 to close on MAY 6, Bright Monday. The clock is ticking, and your support is the key to turning this dream into a reality. You can join us now in this critical endeavor and be a part of history. Our ultimate goal is to raise the full $3 Million, to the glory of God.

Let us unite as a community to transform this dream into reality. Your prayers, unwavering support, and generous contributions are essential not only in securing this property and constructing the Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral but also in establishing a sacred space where, through daily or frequent services, we can earnestly pray for the well-being of our founders.

Last year when we announced this project, we invited you to be a part of The Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral Founder’s Circle with any gift of $5,000 or more.

The Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral Founder’s Circle is limited to the people who stand with us in the beginning – the Founders – those who lead and light the way. We set a deadline of December 31, 2023, to be a member of the Founder’s Circle, but we are extending that deadline to May 6 of this year. This is your chance to become a part of something truly meaningful from the beginning. Members of The Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral Founder’s Circle will be recognized in a permanently inscribed keystone. Founders will be commemorated and remembered in every liturgical service, extending our prayers to their families and in loving memory of those who have reposed in the Lord. Together, we create a sanctuary of faith and remembrance that will endure for generations.

You can give your gift of $5,000 today to become a member of the Founder’s Circle, but every gift matters and is deeply appreciated. 

You can help make this vision a reality by giving a financial gift to this effort. You can partner with us, and by giving, you become a co-laborer in building something that is God-pleasing.

We are embarking on a journey to build the next major Russian Orthodox Cathedral.

A community that is vibrant and alive, with a range of cultural activities and events that celebrate the traditions and heritage of both Russians and Americans. From Maslenitsa - Blini and Pelmeni festivals to Yolka celebrations, concerts, and more, a place that offers a rich array of cultural experiences that allow us to build bridges across cultures and create a vibrant and inclusive community. And, looking to the future, this can become a place of all Orthodox peoples, where you can learn about the traditions and cultures of many Orthodox denominations. All this will take place within our Spiritual and Cultural Center.

A safe place for all of the joyous parts and difficult parts of life. A God-pleasing, vibrant Orthodox community to call home in South Florida.

By giving, you become a co-laborer in the God-pleasing workings of a local parish. This campaign is organized under the auspices of Saint Luke the Blessed Surgeon Russian Orthodox Church because, without a local parish, any Cathedral that we build lacks life. We are not building a museum. We are building the very center of our spiritual life – a place where all the big moments of our lives will take place, and a place where the thousands of small moments will take place, a parish where a local sisterhood provides meals and a local brotherhood cares for the elderly.

By giving, you are supporting our Metropolitan in achieving his vision of building the next great Russian Orthodox Cathedral for the world.

This Cathedral will be a home for Russians and the Orthodox community of all nationalities – Ukrainian, Serbian, Georgian, Belorussian, Romanian, Moldavian, Syrian, Greek, etc. –  and a community that is a ministry to the world at large. The Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral will be your Orthodox home in Florida. Here, your children will be baptized. You will celebrate Pascha and all of the events of the liturgical calendar. You will fast, and you will feast. At this beautiful Cathedral you will see your children and grandchildren marry. It is not a museum, but instead, a vibrant parish where children attend lessons and where you can always count on a good conversation each Sunday at a trapeza luncheon.

We are building a Cathedral that is not just for us but one that will last long beyond the days that our individual footsteps mark these paths. Indeed, we are building a Cathedral that, as with all great Cathedrals, is designed to serve not just a moment, but the ages.

Now, I invite you to join us by giving a gift.

Through the prayers of Saint Luke the Blessed Surgeon, may God reward you richly in all things for your love, prayers, and generosity.

Sincerely,

Alexis Lukianov
President & Church Warden

P.S. With your help and prayers we will continue to build a magnificent Cathedral that helps people have a loving and daily relationship with God, His Son Jesus Christ, and be inspired by the Holy Spirit. Please join us by praying for us and by giving a generous gift today.